The Art of Self Care
Self care is a practical yet enjoyable habit for improving general wellbeing.
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Daily life in general (commuting, working, setting time aside for socialization, etcetera) can be hard on the body mentally and physically. Over time, this can lead to feeling unmotivated, fatigued, and generally lacking the serotonin we need to be our usual selves. Especially during the winter months when SAD is triggered, such feelings can be exhausting. But, through consistent self care rituals which allow us to dedicate time to ourselves and unwind from daily stresses, we can combat these experiences and adopt a regular sense of relaxation.
Self care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health, which could mean different things to different people, but is the general basis of protecting our mental and physical health to prevent burnout. There are so many things we can do to reap the rewards of self care, but regardless of the actual activity, intertwining some definition of the word daily is like magic for your wellbeing, even if it’s just 5 minutes. We, as a society, can often get caught up in everything we have to do in our day, so much so that we forget what we want to do and what our body needs to feel its best. So, with an effective self care mechanism to keep us aligned with all aspects of life, we can apply the ideal balance to our daily lives. Some of the most popular (and best) self care antidotes are the quick 10 minute daily ones, but there are other, more time-consuming methods that are perfect for having a whole self care day if possible. You can tailor your self care habits to your lifestyle and what you genuinely enjoy, as that is the real purpose of any self care journey, and there are so many activities that can be very beneficial to health, whilst also being fun.
Reading, for one, is a pretty common self care practice that can be implemented for a few minutes or a few hours, making it super versatile. We don’t all enjoy reading a whole book in a day; maybe you prefer to read articles or magazines, but taking time for yourself to focus on just reading, no matter what it is, can help us disconnect from the outside world and have a profound impact on our mental health. It’s also really enjoyable—if you find a book that you genuinely enjoy reading and set regular time to do just that, you may find that you’re so much more relaxed and generally happy. This is because reading can reduce stress and anxiety, improve cognitive function and creativity, and help you sleep better. By setting 10 minutes a day aside to read, we’re actively giving our mental health a boost. It may help to trade ‘doom scrolling’ habits for reading—maybe instead of going on TikTok first thing in the morning, you could read 10 pages of a book, setting yourself up for the day with a sense of accomplishment instead of instant gratification. This isn’t to say give up TikTok altogether because social media can also be very helpful, but by altering our habits to be more favorable to mental health, we can feel a lot better throughout the day. The true spirit of self care. Reading is also very accessible; a book can be taken almost anywhere and read on your commute to work, or they could be downloaded online etcetera, making reading a very popular tool for ‘me time’ and one of the most significant pieces of the self care puzzle.
After reading your book, your brain might be in the right mindset for another self care idea—exercise. Regular exercise has physical benefits: improved cardiovascular health, muscular and cardiac hypertrophy, improved bone health, and so on. But, it is also a powerhouse instrument for mental wellbeing, no matter what type of exercise you embark on. Practicing yoga, for one, is known for its relaxation ability, reducing stress and helping our brains produce more endorphins (feel-good hormones). Strength training, on the other hand, for example, weightlifting, can improve self-esteem and reduce cortisol levels, again increasing endorphin release from the brain. And cardiovascular activity, say running, also releases endorphins into the bloodstream, making us feel really good about ourselves. Hence the term ‘runner’s high’. So, the trend across exercise in general is endorphins are released, improving mood, and therefore a very effective source of self care. Aside from the physical and mental benefits of actually completing the workout itself, the aspect of setting goals, for example, running your first 5k, increasing your PB by 5kg, taking part in more yoga classes per week etcetera, is also very good for the brain. It provides a boost to self-esteem and motivation, pushing us to accomplish more. Alas, we don’t always have time for a long run or lifting session, but exercise routines can be tailored, especially stretching/yoga, to literally take 5 minutes. It’s a dedicated time to momentarily concentrate on nothing but yourself, a very rewarding act and the definition of self care, if that’s what you enjoy. It’s important to choose something that we actually enjoy, and not what society is telling us we ‘have’ to do, or what is ‘expected’ to feel the true benefits.
Another go-to self care habit, that can be less time-consuming than reading or exercising, is practicing a skin care routine. This is kind of what we think of when we hear the term ‘self care’. We all probably do a (basic) skincare routine every day anyways without the label of ‘self-care’, but incorporating a more extensive routine when possible can really boost your spirits and accentuate relaxation, if skin care is something you are interested in. Aside from the obvious benefits of a solid facial skincare routine like improving overall skin appearance and increasing confidence levels as a result, skincare can be a powerful tool across the board. For instance, how relaxing is it to apply a cold, soothing moisturizer? Or sit and literally do nothing with a face mask on? The relaxation and mindfulness aspect of a skincare routine is what aids wellbeing. That being said, formulating the perfect skincare can be hard, as everyone’s skin is different and maybe the super boujee face cream you saw a celebrity use on Vogue Beauty Secrets wasn’t great for you. And that’s ok. So, once we get over the hurdle of deciding which products to indulge in, skin care as a form of self care is unmatched. Of course, skin care doesn’t only refer to the face, even though a face mask is one of the most common self care ideas.
Skin care can be evening-long, or even a whole day event, if that’s what will make you feel the best:
Morning—Have a nice shower/bath using shower oils and moisturizing post shower for skin hydration.A personal favourite is the Ritual of Karma Shower Oil - Rituals and Ritual of Karma Body Cream - Rituals.The steam from the shower can also help open face pores, allowing you to get a deeper facial cleanse in the next step.
Afternoon—Apply a face mask, or a selection of face masks. Perhaps a sheet mask, a clay mask, a nose pore strip, an under eye mask etc. Hand and foot masks can also be very calming, especially with lavender or shea butter scents and infusions.
Evening—The lengthy skincare rigmarole. Everyone’s routine is different, but spending time on yourself through a longer skincare indulgence whenever you get the chance can help you feel the best version of yourself, especially if you typically wear makeup or are often on-the-go. Cleanser, serum, moisturizer, face roller, lip mask...the list is really endless.
Personally, I enjoy doing my skincare reset alongside an influencer or celebrity, especially if I am using their products. Watching Vogue Beauty Secrets is great for this and makes you feel kinda like the main character that you are.
Taking time aside just for yourself to do something that’s good for you is the main goal here, and it is so worth it once you’ve got a solid routine down. It really helps prevent burnout and in the long run, it becomes a habit, which sets a good foundation for wellbeing.
